We are now accepting applications for the Creative Connections Fund, our new open, competitive grants program for small and midsize arts organizations in California. The fund provides grants of up to $50,000, over one or two years, for artistic creativity and cultural participation projects. During May and June, we are offering information sessions at locations around the state.

As part of the Communities Advancing the Arts initiative, Irvine has launched www.AdvancetheArts.org. This new site shares on-the-ground knowledge, resources and experiences among the initiative's nine community foundations, which are working to grow local funding for the arts in California. The site also invites other community foundations and local partners to bring their perspectives.

In a recent speech, Irvine President Jim Canales described the Foundation's commitment to investing in California's Inland Empire, the fastest growing region of the state. The speech previewed findings from a new Irvine-sponsored study by the Public Policy Institute of California that highlight the dramatic demographic shifts taking place in the region.

An Irvine-commissioned white paper explores the range of ways private foundations can engage in public policy. The white paper proposes a framework for public policy grantmaking, and includes lessons from previous policy-related grantmaking efforts. Irvine commissioned the paper because we are increasingly engaged in the public policy arena.

As part of Irvine's commitment to effectiveness, we are releasing our 2007 Annual Performance Report, which looks at our progress last year across a variety of measures. A letter from Irvine President Jim Canales points out that measuring a foundation's impact is a complex question. By sharing our approach, he writes, Irvine hopes to contribute to the broader discussion about assessing philanthropic effectiveness.

Irvine's Board of Directors recently approved 21 grants totaling more than
$10.3 million to support a variety of efforts in our program areas of Arts, California Perspectives and Youth. Of that, $3.15 million will support eight California community foundations to build individual giving for the arts and support local artists. More on the 21 grants.

New research by the California Dropout Research Project shows that just 4 percent of California high schools account for more than 40 percent of all high school dropouts. The research project, based at UC Santa Barbara, is funded by the Irvine, Gates, Hewlett and Walter S. Johnson foundations. Read the press coverage here.

For many California arts organizations, the process of applying for grants can be repetitive and time consuming. Now a statewide collaboration of more than 30 arts funders has launched the California Cultural Data Project to standardize the grant application process and provide a wealth of data about the arts and cultural sector in California. To find out more, visit www.caculturaldata.org or read a recent Los Angeles Times article about the project.